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Post by Smudge on Apr 17, 2012 12:37:39 GMT
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 17, 2012 13:36:09 GMT
Taking into account the size of these ants, they are no doubt in awe of having such a big new home. They feel more secure and safe in the test tube, so it probably means until their queen feels like moving home, they are content to stay safe and snug where they are.  Leave them a few days and see if they move.  I don't know exactly what the white stuff is you've used around the top of the tank as a barrier, but keep an eye on any wanderers which might walk across this and escape. |
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Post by Smudge on Apr 17, 2012 13:51:33 GMT
The white stuff is the PTFE GP1 I have used it before nothing i've seen crosses it  even these the fall straight off until they take the hint. The queen is residing in the testube with a handful of workers the other 50 or so are on the glass behind the square nest. Not sure why they do not check the ytong chambers  I put a lot of work into this formicarium. |
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Post by UKantz on Apr 17, 2012 15:05:10 GMT
I'm sure they will move when they are ready, it's kind of like my formicarium I'm using for my messor barbarus Good luck on your pheds |
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Post by Smudge on Apr 17, 2012 15:09:52 GMT
out of curiosity is it quite big with a log on top  |
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Post by UKantz on Apr 17, 2012 15:17:50 GMT
Check my journal  , I will follow this journal as I am considering getting this species |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 17, 2012 17:22:56 GMT
Good luck with these. They're a fun little species. |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 17, 2012 18:31:57 GMT
Not sure why they do not check the ytong chambers I put a lot of work into this formicarium. Like the saying goes about taking a horse to water, little ants may not find the Ytong to their liking or may be waiting until the colony gets really big. While larger ants like a really big nesting place, it is a matter of time and patience to see what your Pheds do. They might move when a few scouts discover what the nest is like and how safe it feels for their queen and brood. |
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Post by Smudge on Apr 20, 2012 19:31:29 GMT
Right as they were not settling I made a rash decision the front chamber which they were not using, I filled parshally with sand, I also took out the back chamber and added a pile of moist sand under the lamp against the front chamber which seems to have worked brilliant. My Pheidole firstly started digging down the side of the Y'tong through a small gap in the sealant. They are residing in the bottom chamber of the y'tong and in the pile of sand down the side. They have been there for the past two days and are still digging out their nest. I did however see the queen yesterday in the Y'tong chamber but I'm just going to leave them be and settle in and try not to observe them too often. I have to say they are a very interesting species to monitor.  |
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Post by Smudge on Apr 23, 2012 18:54:08 GMT
The ants have been settled in there new location for a few days now I'm getting a little concerned that they are not foraging. I leave mealworms in for them but I always end up removing them. There are over 50 workers and the only thing I have seen them eat is some honeywater which I put in.
Now correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that they were succesful hunters and they have been very timid to say the least. They are out and about but do not seem to be fetching anything... Suggestions?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 24, 2012 7:59:25 GMT
Being tiny ants these girls like smaller food prey. Try some little flies or spiders, as they may find larger prey a bit too much to move unless any soldiers help out. |
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Post by Smudge on Apr 24, 2012 9:20:35 GMT
I have but nothing. I have found the problem I think. The additional sand I had put in for them as a fail safe was dry and even though they dug down the side of the y'tong they did not go any further. This I'm assuming is due to it being dry. So I sprayed the sand and low and behold they have been digging like no tomorrow lets just hope they settle down this time. |
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Post by Smudge on Apr 27, 2012 13:10:22 GMT
Well after a few days of making quite an impressive number of entrance holes and what I'm assuming is an impressive nest, they are still digging haha. They have been taking food but not a lot. m They are really not fussed on mealworms. I places one in the other day that had just shed its skin. It was soft and white and my messors like them like this. At first I thought the Pheidole did as within seconds it was smotherd by what seemed to be the entire colony. Even the queen came out to see what the fuss was about. With an epic battle which took about half hour the meal worm lay dead. The pheidole Pallidula fussed over it for a while but when I checked a few hours later the meal worm was still there and the Pheidole were back digging . I think I'm going to have to try differant food, but bugs seem to be quite scarce at the moment due to bad weather. Off to pets at home to get cricket nymphs it is. |
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Post by Smudge on Apr 30, 2012 11:39:42 GMT
These little gals have been very busy the last few days constantly digging and finally foraging ;D. I have found a food source that they like finally, crickets. I placed 4 nymphs in the other day and wow it was like nothing I have ever seen within seconds they were swarmed. Masses of moving brown balls of ants, then after a few minutes some started moving them to the nest, others decided that this would be easier piece by piece. Anyway one cricket was a juvenile and easily twice as big as the others even it didn't seem to pose a problem until it came to it being dragged down one of the entrance holes. I will post pictures as soon as I can but they are not ones of them attacking the crickets sorry to disappoint you all. They are very difficult to photograph I must say. I might put a cricket in today and photograph it what do you think? |
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Post by Smudge on May 13, 2012 16:11:54 GMT
Been a while since my last post but happy to report I can just make out the queen and eggs... Lots of eggs! they are feeding regularly accepting any food given. They are very interesting to watch mainly at feeding because one little worker goes back to tell everyone about the food, and next you see lots of workers and soldiers until the food is a mass of ants. Also here are the photos I promised!    Carrying a cricket leg!!!  The rest of the cricket you can see clearly the size of the soldiers compared to their smaller sisters. Hope you enjoy looking at them it was really awkward taking these photos. |
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I put a lot of work into this formicarium. 
